Theatrical appliance.



E. H. AMET.

THEATRIGAL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..5,1912.

Patented 00t.1,191 2.

EJDWARI? AMET, OF REDONDU BEACi-i, CALIFORNIA.

THE ATBICAL 'APPLIAN GE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Rat-ented Oct. 1,1912.

Application filed March 5. 1912. Serial No. 6813M.

To all whom it may concern:

3 e it known that I, llDwAiui H. Arum, a citiren of the United States, residing at lledondo Beach. in the county of Los Angcles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Theatrical Appliance, of which the following is a specification.

.ein object of this invention is to provide for use in. theaters novel apparatus by which to produce a realistic combined audible and visible entertainment.

Tl' invention is applicable for exhibiting motion pictures, stereopticon views, marionette performances and the like with sound accompaniments.

An object of the inrention to provide means whereby vocal or other sounds supposed to emanatefrom or accompany mo- .tion picture characters or subjects may be reproduced with localized efl'ect.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure l is a broken perspective view of theatrical. apparatus constructedin accordance with this invention for use in a picture show. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same in use. .Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device as applied for a. mario'nette show.

The invention comprises a curtaiirpr drop consisting of a. frame 1 having considerable depth and con'iprising trout and back portions 2, 3, connected by suitable means as the top, bottom and intermediate cross pieces 4, 5, G and bridging 7. The framework surrounding the central visual exhibiting space 8 may be partly or cntirelyclosed at the frontby the picture screen 9 which may be of any material. suitable for the purpose, the same being in the case of motion pictures or stcreopticonpictures, of material which will clearly reflect the images projected thereagai'nst. ln the case of marionette shows, a suitable open space a may be provided within the framefor exhibition of the manikins. In said frame are mounted sound reproducers as the electrical telephone receivers 10 and sound amplifying horns ll. the mouths of which horns are concealed by gauze or not material 12 fastened to the frame front and capable of allowing the sound to passtherethrough unobstructedly, and-being capable of reflecting light sufficiently to conceal the horns. Said gauze or net may be suitably painted or otherwise decorated to form an ornamental border the talking machine.

around the exhibiting space. Electrical con nection between the telephone receivers 10 and the source reproduction as a talking machine, not shown, is virovioied in the form of electrical leads 1,3, l, formed a flexible connection at 15 to lead from the drop to The drop is supported by suitable raising and lowering means as the ropes l6 fastened thereto and led into the loft and there manipulated by the usual mechanism, not shown, for operating theatrical drops. The flexible elec trical connections 15 allow the curtain to be raised or lowered without disturbing the necessary electrical circuit.

In. operating with a motion picture machine, not shown, such machine projects the picture on the screen and the audible parts are transmitted from a talking machine, not shown, which is in synchronism with the motion picture to the enouncing horns, which are located in the marginal space or bcirder that forms the frame of the picture screen. As many sound reproducers may be employed as are necessary to give the desired result, via, to distribute the sound evenly to all parts of any cross sectional area of the room. Three sound reproducers will generally be suflicient, excepting where my sounddistributing and localizing; method described in my co- 'ieuding application Serial No. (536,740 filed July 3, 1911 is employed, when six sound reproduccrs will generally be used.

I have so constructed. this combination screen and sound reproduccr support that it may be used as a drop in an ordinary theater, where'shmvs othei than motion picture shows are given, where a fixed picture screen would be imprmticable. \Vhere the combination is used in such a theater I have aranged that all lead wires necessary areal; all times in connection with said support,

the same being carried in flexible cable form as at 15 from the frame to the line wires, not

shown, leading from the electrical apparatus. These connections are not disturbed when the curtain is raised as the cable com-u pcnsates for the necessary inotion and dis tance trax'eled in raising or lowe'ringsaid screen and sound reproducer support. Iclaim: p

1. A theatrical drop coinprisii'iga motion picture screen, a support therefor having a ,n'iarginal space acting'as a frame for said screen space havinga widthand a depth 10 sound source.

sufiicient to contain sound reproducers, and the necessary operating wires for the purpose specified. A

2. A theatrical drop combining a motion 5 picture screen or curtain frame or su port and electrically operated sound repro ucers located in proximity to the edges or borders of said screen or curtain and means for connecting said sound reproducers with the, 

